by Jerry Senn
If you find one true friend during your life you should consider it a gift from God. Most of us have many acquaintances; we know their names, are on speaking terms and admire them or dislike them. But, these are not “true friends.” A true friend shares and makes you a better person, sticking with you no matter what.
In the life of young king David we have a friendship which tremendously impacted on his life. Without this friend David might never have become the greatest king of Israel. His life might have ended in complete failure. At the end of this friend’s life David said, “I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women” (2 Sam 1:27).
God knew David needed an intimate friend to walk with him through the valleys he faced. Jonathan “latched” onto David instantly, admired David’s skill and courage in bringing down the giant. From that time on “Jonathan became one with David, and he loved him as himself” (1 Sam 18:1).
The two had chemistry between them. What began as a one-sided relationship became a two-way bonding. Each was willing to give this life for the other. (1Sam 20:1-4).
George McDonald once wrote: “It is in loving and not being loved that one can come nearest to the soul of another.” Jonathan was a gift to David and David a gift to Jonathan.
You and I may never be so blessed to have such a friend because we’re often unwilling to be a true friend to another person. Many so-called friendships are based on selfish motives rather than on common love.
Even if on this earth we never know a true friend we have one who is “closer than a brother” in Jesus. He was made for adversity, desiring to draw near intimately in true oneness with us.
Let’s consider our response to his sacrificial love as our true friend.